Saturday, March 2, 2013

This Week in Architecture: Episode VI

Welcome to another episode of This Week in Architecture!

Centra Metropark

Starting off, we head to Iselin, NJ to visit the Centra Metropark office building designed by KPF. One of the cool things that appealed to me here was that I have been to the Metropark area a good number of times. Whether it's picking up a family member after a trip or heading into NYC myself, it's sometimes the best place to come to. To see such a cool building inhabit an area that is in desperate need of revitalization is very cool.

The natural daylighting strategies should be noted, as in some places portions of the building are cut out to allow light in. This is especially relevant for me right now; in studio we are designing a museum and one of the key elements is figuring out how natural daylighting will work.

Check out the full story here.

 CityLife Milano

Moving on to Milan Italy, a project entitled CityLife Milano designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is underway. While the complex contains some more or less normal skyscrapers, the one that strands out the most is the middle one, bending at the waist and almost appears to be bowing down to onlookers. It blows my mind that structural systems even work for stuff like that.

Zaha Hadid certainly stays true to her usual style of design, with bright white surfaces and chaotic (and seeming engineering nightmares) structural forms. Despite the strange appearance, I actually quite like the complex, and the interior renderings are absolutely pristine.

Check out the full story here.

Piraeus Underwater Antiquities Musem

There is no real designer here (as there are tons) but a good many people participated in a competition to build an underwater antiquities museum. The museum was to be both functional and visually stimulating, becoming a landmark for the city and a source of "quality tourism and sustainability.

This article is great because it shows tons of other competitors. I think there are a lot of people (most especially students) that don't take the time or the effort to work on competitions, and it's really a great way to keep in practice with design!

Check out the full story here.

Third Wave Kiosk

Lastly we head to Torquay, Australia to see the Third Wave Kiosk designed by Tony Hobba Architects. Generally these types of little beach shacks don't interest me too much, but this one caught my eye for a very specific reason: the lighting. On the night photos/renderings, the light shoots up along the walls from a portal in the ground. Pretty cool stuff.

I have to say, the design fits in well with the beach. It is unobtrusive, and really goes along well; it looks like it belongs there. The architects made sure that it went along with its environmental setting, but also was able to engage in the beach culture. It's pretty challenging to pull off a tiny kiosk center made to serve many people, but it is certainly well-executed here.

Check out the full story here.


Well, that's going to do it for this episode. Thanks for tuning in, and hope you stop by next week! If you liked this, don't forget to tweet, share, or email it to your friends!



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